Learner s telegraphic instrument



(No Model.)

B. BONSALL.

LEARNERS TELBGRAPHIG INSTRUMENT. No. 336,284. 2? 1 Patented Feb. 16,1886.

W/A A M [k BYJLu/ww ATTORNEYS.

Tins. Phmouuwgnphen Washinginn, 0.4:.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMMOR BONSALL, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA.

LEARNERS TELEGRAPHIC INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 336.284, dated February16, 1886.

Application filed February 3, 1885. Serial No. 154,823.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMMOR BONSALL, of Davenport, in the county of Scottand State of Iowa, have invented a new and ImprovedTelegraph-Instrument, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improvedtelegraphinstrument for producing the clicks or sounds of the Morsecharacters on a Morse sounder by mechanical means, thus enablingstudents to produce the sounds easily and rapidly, and to learn to readletters, words, and messages transmitted by means of a Morse sounder.

The invention consists in the combination, with a frame havingspring-contacts connected with the circuit-wires, of devices for pullinga slotted or recessed strip between the said spring-contacts, thusbreaking and closing the circuit.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification,

in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts inall the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan View of my improved telegraph-instrument. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional elevation of the same, on the line a; m, Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation of the same on the line g y,Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view to Fig. 2 of my invention,showing the rolls or points out of contact with the interposedpattern-strip, being opposite an aperture or perforation of thepattern-strip.

Two rollers, A A, are journaled in the up right part of the frame B, atone end of the same, both rollers being covered with rubber, and one ofthem having a crank-handle, I, for turning it. The frame B is providedin each end with a guide-slot, G, in line with the space between therollers. Binding-posts D are held on the top and bottom of the frame, atthe end opposite the one at which the rollers A are located, and witheach post a springcontact, F, is connected. On the free end of the lowerspring, F, a roller, F, is pivoted, which is in electrical contact withthe said spring. The line-wires G are held in the binding-posts, and abattery and a Morse sounder are in the circuit. Strips H, preferablymade of paper or (No model.)

other non-conducting material, are provided with a series of slots, J,which are arranged to correspond in their size and arrangement with theMorse characters. Any number of these strips may be used; but preferablythirty-two of them are used, each having different char acters. A strip,H, is passed through the slots 0 and between the rollers A, and is movedin the direction of the arrow a by turning the crank-handle I. The upperspring, F, rests against the top of the strip H, and the roller F in thelower strip rests against the bottom of the strip. WVhen the ends of thesprings come to a slot, J, the end of the upper spring can come incontact with the roller on the lower spring, the circuit is closed, andthe click is produced by the sounder, the clicks varying according tothe size and arrangement of the slots. Then the contact is broken by thepaper between two slots, and so on alternately. By moving the strips Hthrough the apparatus a number of times the clicks or letters arerepeated, and the student can easily commit them to memory. Theknowledge of manipulating the key is not required to produce the sounds,as all that is necessary is to turn the crank I.

In place of using paper strips H, metal strips may be used, which areeither slotted in the manner shown, or have recesses in their uppersurfaces. The springs rest against both surfaces of the strip, and thusthe contact is closed; but when a slot comes between the points of thesprings the circuit is broken, as the point of the top spring cannotwork down to the bottom of the recess or within the notch to come incontact with the roller F, the springs being arranged so that they willjust be in contact with the surface of the strip, but will not springtogether to come in contact with each other.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. In a telegraph-instrument, the combination,with a perforated pattern-strip of conducting material and itsfeeding-rolls, of the spring-arms connected to the line-wirebindingposts, and having their free ends or points arranged to stand outof contact as an aperture or perforation of said strip is brought intoposts, andhavingtheirfree endsor points, one 10 coincidence with saidpoints or ends of arms, of which is provided with a roll, arranged tothe circuit being completed by the conductivstand out of contact as anaperture or perfoity of the said strip and springarms, substanration ofsaid pattern-strip is brought into 00- 5 tially as set forth. incidencewith said points or ends of arms, 2. In a te1egraph-instrument, thecombina substantially as and for the purpose set forth. tion, with aperforated pattern-strip of con- Witnesses: EMMOR BONSALL. ductingmaterial and its feeding-rolls, of the JACOB M. ELDRIDGE,

spring-armsconnected totheline-wirebinding- L. M. FISHER.

